FDA retracts claim that Taco Bell lettuce supplier caused Cyclospora outbreak
The Food and Drug Administration said its earlier test indicating Cyclospora contamination in lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms was a false positive, reversing earlier statements linking the produce to a nationwide diarrheal illness.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has withdrawn its earlier assertion that lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico was the source of a Cyclospora outbreak that affected hundreds of people. After re-examining a sample, the agency concluded that the original laboratory result was a false positive and did not represent true amplification of the parasite.
The FDA noted that no confirmed product samples have tested positive for the parasite and that it continues to work with the supplier to remove any implicated items from the market. Taylor Farms said the agency apologized for the mistake and confirmed the false-positive finding.
Earlier, officials had warned consumers to discard the lettuce, which is used by Taco Bell and sold in supermarkets, and the fast-food chain had halted use of the ingredient nationwide. The company also issued a voluntary recall covering specific lots in 27 states.
The outbreak, attributed to Cyclospora, has been reported in more than 1,600 cases across 34 states, causing prolonged diarrhea, abdominal cramps and low-grade fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.